The Duke of Shu Han began guarding Jingzhou in place of Guan Yu.

Chapter 300 The Wind Reversed
"Are there also well salts in Hedong?"

Although Liu Shan was unfamiliar with the geography of Hedong, he was familiar with Dong Yun's temperament.

Seeing the latter's behavior, it was easy to guess what was going on.

Mi Wei corrected:
"It's not well salt, it's salt from ponds and marshes!"

"South of Yishi County in Hedong, north of Zhongtiao Mountain, there are two large lakes, one called Salt Lake and the other called Female Salt Marsh."

“The former is seventy li from east to west and seventeen li from north to south; the latter is twenty-five li from east to west and twenty li from north to south.”

“The water of the two lakes is salty and bitter. The villagers divert the water to irrigate the fields. When the water dries up, the salt is extracted and it is called ‘salt field’.”

According to previous research, King Mu of Zhou once visited Anyi and saw the salt lake. Later, during the Later Han Dynasty, a salt supervisor was established to manage salt affairs, just like the well salt in Shu.

Liu Shan was stunned when he heard Mi Wei describe the size of the two lakes.

He's seen a large lake before in his life.

But this is the first time I've ever heard of such a large salt lake.

This time, without Dong Yun's reminder, I have already gained something:
"With such substantial profits from salt production in Hedong, if the 'open market' policy were implemented, not only would ordinary merchants flock to it, but even powerful families and wealthy clans within the Great Wall would likely vie for a share!"

Mi Wei said, "The grain stored by the people is mostly held by powerful clans. My method is precisely to fleece them!"

……

Those who receive official salaries must not compete with the common people for profit.

"He who receives the greater benefit must not take the lesser one."

At a banquet, Colonel Liao Li of the Changshui School spoke eloquently to the host and guests.

“Today, some officials in the court, for their own personal gain, are sending troops out of season, disregarding the livelihoods of millions within the pass. Is this truly benevolent?”

"The emperor is young and weak, and powerful ministers control the channels of communication, causing loyal and devoted men like Lord Li to be frustrated and unable to realize their ambitions. Is this truly loyalty?"

Liao Li makes no mention of Zhuge Liang in any of his sentences.

Yet every sentence subtly mocks Zhuge Liang.

No one dared to answer.

Liao Li was already used to it.

He took a leisurely sip of the cloudy wine, his gaze secretly sweeping over the two people in the corner.

Those two, for their own reasons, had been neglected and sidelined.

One of them was Li Ping, whom Liao Li had specially recruited.

The other was Qiao Zhou, a scholar from Brazil who had just arrived in the capital and wanted to serve Zhuge Liang but was unsuccessful.

Liao Li had heard of this man's erudition as early as in Sichuan.

Just when he was worried about not being able to find allies, he deliberately said to Li Ping:
"Master Li has been living in seclusion in Sichuan for several years. I wonder if he has met any virtuous and ambitious people?"

Li Ping, understanding the unspoken meaning, turned and pointed at Qiao Zhou, saying:
"Qiao Yunnan is a man of great learning, renowned throughout the prefecture and county. Does Gongyuan see no such thing as him and hear no such thing as him?"

Liao Li repeatedly apologized, then personally stepped forward to offer Qiao Zhou a toast, holding a wine pot and a wine cup.

The latter readily drank a full glass, but refused Liao Li's offer to pour him a second glass:
“Wine is the essence of water and grain. If we drink an extra cup, someone will have to skip several meals. Isn’t this competing with the common people for profit?”

Liao Li naturally understood the other party's veiled sarcasm, but he didn't take offense.

Instead, he found a familiar, rebellious, and arrogant spirit in the other person.

A sense of familiarity arose immediately.

He handed the pot and cups to the servant, then stepped forward with a smile and said:

"Does Yun Nan also believe that the people are not getting enough to eat?"

Qiao Zhou clasped his hands and said:
"When I entered the pass from the Shu Road, I saw that many of the people in the pass looked malnourished and lived even more austere lives than the Qiang people who traded horses in the Shu."

"It is evident that under years of conscription, the common people have no savings and are suffering greatly."

"That's exactly right!" Liao Li clapped his hands and said.

“Those of us who are ambitious may not be employed, but we cannot help but speak out for the people.”

"I intend to call upon scholars both inside and outside the pass, and tens of thousands of people to write to the court to discuss the merits and demerits of the government, but I fear that my reputation is insufficient."

"Would you be willing to offer your assistance?"

“I already have a plan in mind, and I couldn’t have asked for it more,” Qiao Zhou replied without hesitation.

Liao Li was delighted: "Then how about..."

Qiao Zhou: "However, I am currently preoccupied with important matters and fear I will not be able to offer my advice to the court until next year." Liao Li immediately became anxious:
"What could be more important than matters of state?"

Qiao Zhou replied calmly, "This is a matter of state itself."

"To be honest, General Wei recently submitted a memorial to the Emperor, proposing the 'Opening the Middle Method'."

"If this policy is implemented, although it will not make the people rich in an instant, it will be enough to alleviate the suffering of the people from conscription and will be of great benefit to the current situation."

"Zhou Bucai was fortunate to be favored by General Wei and served as his advisor in the army in the east, working hard to lift the ban on salt in Hedong."

Liao Li was immediately dumbfounded.

He then looked at Li Ping beside him, who was trembling with anger.

You, Qiao Yunnan, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes.

I thought they were all fallen people who had failed to gain Zhuge Liang's favor.

How did you manage to get in through General Wei's connections without saying a word?

Not to mention how furious the two of them were.

When the hosts and guests present heard Qiao Zhou mention a way to save the situation, they all stepped forward to inquire out of curiosity.

Qiao Zhou was sent by Mi Wei to promote the "Open Middle Way" doctrine, so he spoke freely about everything he knew.

Upon learning that the imperial court intended to transfer the salt from Hedong to benefit the people, the local scholars, who were already familiar with the details of the salt ponds, immediately became restless.

He immediately instructed his servants to assess the family's assets to see how much they could contribute to the matter.

Suddenly, the atmosphere at the banquet reversed.

Qiao Zhou, who had previously been neglected, suddenly became a guest of honor.

Liao Li, who had been trying to control public opinion, was completely ignored, just like Li Ping.

……

“I don’t need a son, I don’t need you to come to my bedside to show filial piety.”

On the soft couch, Mi Zhu deliberately put on a stern face towards his eldest son.

"The late emperor entrusted you with the affairs of state, and His Majesty and the Prime Minister both rely on you. Yet you are wasting your time here with your father. How can you live up to the expectations of the people?"

"Quickly go and gather the military provisions entrusted to you by the Prime Minister, and don't let your father see you in this mansion again!"

Mi Wei put down the bowl of medicine and said calmly:
"Don't worry, sir."

"The first batch of military rations was sent to Hedong three days ago. The second batch will depart tomorrow... It's enough."

Mi Zhu's expression softened slightly, but his tone remained serious:

"Don't think that just because you've secured this batch of military provisions, you can rest easy from now on."

"As the saying goes, there are no fixed strategies in warfare. Who knows what additional expenses might arise in the future?"

"Even if we don't have them, what about providing compensation to the soldiers after the war? What about rewarding those who have made meritorious contributions? What about providing relief to the newly surrendered officials and civilians? These all require additional military funds, and the sooner we have enough, the better!"

"Once a war breaks out, grain and wealth flow away like water, and there will never be enough!"

Mi Wei nodded solemnly and said:
"Your Excellency is absolutely right."

"Actually, I have something to discuss with you today."

Mi Zhu's gaze sharpened: "About the Opening of the Middle Way?"

Miwei smiled: "There is no better son than a father!"

Mi Zhu chuckled.

Mi Wei: "The 'opening up the middle' method advocated by my son has certainly attracted the attention of scholars and merchants in Chang'an, but the salt lake is, after all, near enemy territory and there is no precedent to refer to, so many people are hesitant to take a wait-and-see approach."

"So I'm planning to involve our Mi family in this matter, partnering with other families to transport grain in exchange for salt. What do you think, sir?"

When discussing the ways of commerce, Mi Zhu subconsciously stroked his sparse white beard and pondered:

"I understand what you mean, it's about Shang Yang's 'moving a log to establish trust'."

"The imperial court has always insisted on directing profits from a single source, with salt and iron being state monopolies. Now, suddenly offering benefits to the people, unless they see it with their own eyes, the people will inevitably have doubts."

“My family, the Mi family, is a family of high-ranking officials. If we take the lead in doing this, the merchants and scholars who are partners will not have to worry about the court defaulting on its debts.”

"And once it succeeds, others will naturally follow suit, and military supplies will be continuously transported to Hedong..."

(End of this chapter)